Our purpose is to:

• Encourage and assist members of the woodturning community in the development of their professional skills.
• Help advance and promote the woodturning field as a legitimate medium of art.
• Generate ideas, concepts and programs on subjects of a professional nature to benefit the woodturning community.
• Organize exhibitions.
• Conduct a variety of panel discussions of relevant topics on professionalism at AAW symposiums.
• Recognize individuals who have demonstrated high standards of professionalism throughout their careers. 

Who should register for the POP resources

• Any AAW member who is interested in being informed about the various programs and resources the POP offers.  You do not have to be a professional woodturner to benefit from these resources. All AAW members are welcome.

POP communications with the AAW membership

• The POP puts out an eNewsletter every other month for members of the AAW who have registered to receive this resource. To register for this resource please follow this link. Archived copies of the POP eNewsletter may be found to the left on this page.
• The POP dedicates at least one page in most issues of the “American Woodturner” as a means of communicating POP activities to the AAW membership.
• The POP maintains a page on the AAW website as a means of communicating POP activities to the AAW membership.

POP Funding

• POP exhibition auctions held at the AAW symposium each year provide funding for all POP programs.

POP Presentations at the Annual Symposium

• The POP presents an average of eleven (11) rotations each year at the AAW's annual symposiums through what is called the *POP Forum*. These rotations can be presented in many forms, including panel discussions, slide presentations, lectures, even an 'open' forum where the subjects discussed are introduced by the audience participants. No machines, methods or techniques are involved.

Fellowship Grants

• The POP gives biennial *Fellowship Grants* of various amounts to individuals who apply for 'projects' to encourage creative growth, research, or to provide inspiration for new directions in turned wood art. These awards are given on odd numbered years.

Merit Awards

• The POP gives biennial *Merit Awards* to individuals selected by the Committee who have shown exceptional development in their careers as artists and whose artworks have directly influenced or had a significant impact on other artists within the field of woodturning as a whole. This award is distinct from the Lifetime Achievement Award given by the AAW, as it focuses on artistic excellence rather than on contributions to the AAW, per se. These awards are given on even numbered years.

Emerging Artist Program

• In the past, the POP has provided an opportunity at the AAW's annual conferences for four individual artists to participate as *Emerging Artists*. The intent of this program is to give these artists space to create work on site and in front of conference attendees, where they can discuss their methods and intent in producing their art. They are also provided display space in a gallery setting for their finished works.  

Exhibitions

• The POP produces a 'theme' exhibition at every annual conference that is presented in a separate room and in a gallery setting with proper pedestals and lighting. A color catalog is produced for each exhibition and offered for sale at the exhibition. Artists participating in this exhibition are selected by the members of the POP Committee and by recommendation from any other resources available. The pieces within this exhibition are offered to the public in a 'silent auction' format until the last day of the conference where they are offered for sale through a 'live auction'. The sale of these pieces provides the funding for all POP programs.
• 2010 POP sponsored "Teapot" exhibition gallery
• 2009 POP sponsored "Spindles" exhibition gallery

Instant Gallery Excellence Awards

• The POP sponsors IGE (Instant Gallery Excellence) Awards given to selected participants of the instant gallery at the annual symposium.
• Click on this link to view photos of the 2010 IGE award winners.

Professional Directories

• The POP maintains a comprehensive database and email program. In addition to providing communication with our professional members, this database generates an important resource, the Professional Directories. These online directories can be searched by zip code, name, state, etc.

1. Professional Turners Directory. Helps customers, collectors and galleries find a woodturner based on types of turning and sales venues.
2. Demonstrator Directory helps AAW chapters to locate qualified individuals for demonstrations for chapter meetings and for regional symposiums.
3. Teacher Directory helps both the teachers and prospective students by sharing information that will further the education of woodturning.
4. Writer/Scholar Directory. Allows writers and scholars to describe their articles, books or research.
5. Directory of Collectors. Allows galleries and individual turners to see the various interests of the collectors.
6. Gallery Directory assists collectors and turners in finding galleries that specialize in turned art

The POP continues to evolve, refine and expand upon the programs that it offers and is a very dynamic, ever changing entity of the AAW.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact the POP committee.  If you are interested in registering for the resource please follow this link.

Thanks for your interest...

Sincerely,
The POP committee

Photos from the 2010 symposium